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Libby towed tony into the house.
Awkwardly, Tony joined everyone in the kitchen
where John and his sister were finishing lunch. So& Did
Mel make you guys do all the packing?
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Everyone spoke at once.
Tony smiled a little, but he couldn t keep from
glaring at Parker. Finally catching on Parker cleared his
throat. Oh Libby is just borrowing my shirt until hers
dries. Tony raised his eyebrows. Because she spilled
coffee& Parker trailed off his usual confidence shaken.
Well I m sure you ll want it back before you guys
get on the road. Tony turned to Libby. You can help
yourself to anything in my bedroom. You know where that
is. Libby looked a little confused but she headed off down
the hall anyway. When she returned she had traded one
oversized shirt for another and Tony barely restrained
himself from pounding on his chest caveman style.
A couple hours later the truck was finally loaded,
and they were saying their goodbyes.
I don t think Mel s brother is my biggest fan.
Parker smirked a little as he wrapped Libby in a one arm
hug. The other arm was holding a barrel sized container of
popcorn. Parker had proclaimed that he needed sustenance
to deal with the upcoming road trip.
Don t let it bother you. He is sometimes a bit
overprotective of me. Libby pulled a face. Like most big
brothers.
Right, but he isn t your big brother is he? Humor
danced across Parker s face.
Tell him that. Libby murmured into Parker s
shoulder.
I think he can work it out on his own. Parker put
a friendly hand on Libby s cheek. You okay? You ve
been a little off all day.
End of the summer blues I guess. Remind Mel to
text me when you get there.
You got it. Parker kissed her cheek and then
climbed into the truck. See ya. Have a good semester.
The truck pulled away, and her friends left.
Shaking her head Libby started back to the house.
She had to snap out of this. It wasn t like they had
excluded her from their little New York club on purpose.
And she loved Tallahassee. Mel was right. Libby needed
to go out more. And that would be on the first order of
business when she returned to school next week.
Tony watched Libby through the window. He had
already made arrangements to meet John and Mel in the city
for dinner at the end of the week. Having accepted a full
time position at the Examiner, Tony would be in New
Jersey. He would be able to see a lot more of Mel than
Libby would, so he had left them alone to say goodbye.
Also he had reached his Parker tolerance level at least 45
minutes ago. And he was pretty sure Libby wouldn t
appreciate it if he decked her boyfriend. Maybe he would
get lucky and Parker would choke on a piece of popcorn.
The rest of the evening was more fun. Tony took
Libby to a movie. The movie was bad, but it didn t matter
because it was so bad it was funny. After the movie they
got a pizza half Hawaiian for Libby, and half pepperoni
and sausage for Tony. They talked as they ate. Libby told
Tony how she had fallen in love with St. George s Island,
and about the sea shell collection she and Suzy had started.
Tony talked about being a full time at the paper, and how he
had his own cubicle& well his own desk with a shelf
anyway. Tony was a little disappointed in being assigned to
the sports section, but he was working on a few human
interest pieces that one of the editors had said were not
bad . Libby complained mournfully about needing to take
sophomore accounting, and about how her friend Brian
wouldn t even be available for tutoring this year because he
was doing a year abroad with his girlfriend.
Maybe he can tutor you over the phone. Tony
teased.
Right he s going to Australia. It s a 14 hour time
difference! And I am so not paying that phone bill.
14 hours! Wow. I mean I knew it was far but
geez. Still though it s probably pretty cool, you should tell
him to check out the toilets I hear they flush backwards.
Libby laughed. I think that s an old wives tale, but
I will get him to find out for you. If I were going to do a
year abroad, you know if I hit the lottery, I think I would
rather see Europe. Maybe Rome. Or Paris the French
are all about pastries!
They kept talking until the Pizza was cold. There
was no use in leaving two slices though, so with exaggerated
self sacrifice they each lifted a slice from the tray. Fruit
does not belong on a pizza. Tony declared as he picked
an errant piece of pineapple off his slice and offered it to her
disdainfully. Libby s hands were full with her own slice of
pizza, and she reacted without thinking. Leaning in she
nibbled the fruit out of Tony s hand.
Desire, white hot, shot through Tony s nervous
system. Her soft wet lips closed over the tips of his fingers.
Her tongue flickered against pad of his thumb and her teeth
scraped lightly against his skin. It only lasted half a second,
but Tony was rooted speechlessly to his seat. Libby
realized belatedly the intimacy of her actions, and she
snapped back to side of the table and began eating with
great focus. The tension was still thick between them when
the waitress brought their check. Libby reached for her
purse, but Tony waved her off with a flick of his hand.
You forget Lib. I m gainfully employed these
days. Tony s grin went a long way to ease Libby s
nerves. Not very gainfully, but I am happy to spring for
dinner. Especially since the movie was my choice and it
was basically a waste of two hours of your life.
You paid for the movie too, so Skee Ball is on
me. Libby pulled a few bills from her purse and skipped
over to the coin machine in the small arcade area. Tony
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